Balluta Bay closed to swimmers after construction waste blocks sewer
Authorities trace sewage overflow to illegally dumped stone blocks and debris
Updated 3.20pm
Balluta Bay is the latest swimming zone to be closed after construction waste was found to have blocked the sewer line leading to sewage flowing into the popular bathing area.
In a statement on Thursday, the Environmental Health Directorate said bathing was “not recommended” in the area because of “sewage overflow”.
The cause has been “identified and addressed immediately”, the directorate added.
“The incident resulted from a blockage in a secondary sewer line caused by material illegally disposed of by third parties, including sizeable stone blocks and other construction waste,” the EHD said.
“The obstruction has since been removed under the supervision of Environmental Health Officers and the Water Services Coporation.”
Photos sent to Times of Malta show some of the construction waste that blocked the sewers including one hefty piece of concrete that required two men to carry it.
That large block of concrete was found in the sewer line that led to the sewage to flow into Balluta Bay.Several buckets were filled with construction debris as workers from the Water Services Corporation unblocked the sewer line.
A report on the case has been filed with the police.
The directorate said the bathing area will remain closed “as a precautionary measure” until officers complete all the necessary testing and assessments to confirm that bathing water quality has not been adversely affected.
Several buckets full of construction debris was found to have been dumped in the sewers leading to sewage overflow into Balluta Bay.Signs indicating the closure have been fixed in the area.
The directorate said when the water quality is restored, the signs will be removed.
Last week, a popular swimming spot in Ta' Xbiex was also closed off after the Environmental Health Directorate warned people to avoid it because of an "overflow of foul water".
The area was re-opened a few days later after the issue was "investigated, addressed and the nuisance ceased to exist".
That warned camed just days after the directorate urged people not to swim in the area off Dawret il-Qalb Imqaddsa, Birżebbuġa, because of a sewage outflow traced to private residences in a nearby street.